Coffin defends men's junior title at U.S. Open of Surfing

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Santa Barbara's Conner Coffin won the men's junior event for the second year in a row at Saturday's U.S. Open of Surfing at the pier. South Africa's Bianca Buitendag won the women's junior title.

"I'm so stoked, it's a dream come true," said Coffin after defending the men's junior title to win $4,500.

Buitendag was knocked out of the women's main event in the quarterfinals Saturday morning, so she went into the juniors event feeling relaxed.

"I felt like I had nothing to lose, and just showed people I know how to surf," she said.

Buitendag took out the other three women juniors for the title.

Hawaii's Tatiana Weston-Webb didn't waste anytime dropping into waves when the women's final got underway, posting up an 8-point ride.

But Buitendag quickly answered back, posting up an 8.83, then solidifying her top spot by using big turns to get a high 9.27.

Last year's junior champ, Nikki Van Dijk, of Australia, and Frankie Harrer, of Malibu, just couldn't find the waves they needed.

Buitendag remembered coming here at 14 and watching some of the top women competing. She took home an $1,800 check for the win.

"Winning it this year means a lot to me, it means a lot so many people are watching and interested in women's surfing," she said.

Parker took an early lead in the junior men's final, but was selective with his wave choices, only taking three waves during his heat. But the waves he did take were all he needed, with an 8.17, a 7 and then a 7.60.

Carlos Muniz, of Costa Rica, took about seven waves during his heat, but couldn't find the scores he needed and ended up in second spot.

Coffin was lifted on the shoulders of his dad and brother up the sand, high fiving people on his way in.

"It's insane, it's gotta be the best feeling ever," Coffin said.

Conditions slowed down on Saturday after the swell dropped overnight, with long lulls between waves and the wind kicking up to make for choppy waves.

ANDINO OUSTS WILSON

The contest started in the morning with men's Round 5. San Clemente's Kolohe Andino, 19, ousted reigning champ Julian Wilson in a heat that started off slow but ended with excitement as both surfers fought for points to continue.

Andino kept busy building scores with the ocean not producing much to work with, but he posted an early 5.33 to put pressure on the Australian surfer.

"I was pretty nervous about halfway through the heat," Andino said, "and prior to the heat. I wanted to do good so bad and he's such a good competitor. I was nervous in the middle it, there were no waves."

But he continued to keep busy and build his scores by grabbing mid-size waves and using a combination of big turns and above-the-lip tactics, keeping his lead throughout the entire heat.

Andino's coach, Mike Parsons, said Andino had the upper hand because of his history at Huntington Beach.

"I think he has a lot of confidence in Huntington, he grew up surfing a lot of contests here so I think he feels like he's at home," Parsons said.

Wilson was trying to remain patient and wait for sets to come through, and as the final minutes ticked away the waves he was waiting for started to show.

Wilson took a left-hand wave towards the pier, with two big turns and a floater for a good combination that allowed for a 5.23 score – but not enough to take the lead.

Andino answered with a huge air that he landed, followed up with turns to the inside section. Then another wave showed up allowing Andino to solidify his win. Andino ended with a total heat score of 11.10, over Wilson's 10.20 – just a .90 lead over the reigning U.S. Open champ.

Andino's win advances him to the quarterfinals, where he is matched against Brazilian Adriano de Souza, who lives in Laguna Niguel.

South Africa's Jordy Smith, who lives part time in Newport Beach, surfed strong through his heat, scoring 7.93 and 7.17 against Hodei Collazo's two-wave heat total of 9.40.

Smith, runner-up to Huntington Beach's Brett Simpson in 2010, has been one of the strongest surfers in the event.

CONLOGUE ADVANCES

Santa Ana's Courtney Conlogue showed local knowledge by taking plenty of waves during her quarterfinal heat to win over Australia's Laura Enever.

During one of Conlogue's early waves, she took a wave toward the pier, taking a few big turns and weaving into the pier pilings to finish the wave on the north side of the pier. That wave gave her a 6.33 score.

Enever answered back with three big wrap arounds, throwing her fins in the air for a 6.83.

Conlogue continued to dominate through the entire heat, up until the last seconds where she sat just inches away from Enever to try and keep her off waves.

Conlogue is currently ranked fourth in the world, and this event could put her in striking distance for a world title. But first, she's focusing on the U.S. Open of Surfing.

"Right now, I'm not thinking about the title," she said. "I'm thinking about each event win... I would love to get a world title – everyone on tour does. I just don't want to jump to the finish line before I'm out the front gates."

She had a taste of victory in 2009 after she won the U.S. Open, which she has been competing in since she was 12.

Conlogue moves to the semifinals on Sunday and will go up against Australia's Tyler Wright.